US Travel Ban Forces Atiku To Sell Off Mansion

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president of Nigeria, has allegedly sold off his mansion located in Maryland, U.S. Atiku reportedly co-owned the mansion with his American wife, Jennifer Douglas, who was mentioned in a 2015 corruption case involving her husband and former U.S. congressman, William Jefferson. The house was searched by FBI at the time. Atiku denied wrongdoing in the case, but has not visited the U.S. since then


The seven-bedroom cream-coloured single family brick house on 9731 Sorrel Ave, Potomac, Maryland, was reportedly disposed of for $2.95 million.

It “was originally listed for $3.25 million on Zillow and other online real estate websites on January 25, 2018 but was eventually sold for a pending offer of $2.95 million on February 26, 2018 after an online auction”, a report claimed.

Atiku and Douglas bought the 7,131 square feet house in December 1999 for $1.75 million.

The mansion is described as “a colonial-style building that sits in the middle of a 2.3 acres premises of lush green trees. “The mansion has a total of 21 rooms, multiple terraces which are said to be ideal for outdoor parties, a pool sauna, a gazebo, a gourmet kitchen and an outdoor swimming pool”.

The house has long been abandoned, at least since Abubakar left office as vice president in 2007. A source told the newspaper that after 2007, house service staff lived in the mansion for some years, but the place was later locked up, and had remained unoccupied.

Atiku’s wife, Douglas is said to be owing $27,913.77 tax on the property.

Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, admitted the sale of the mansion.

“Atiku Abubakar is a successful businessman who has a long history of real estate investments,” he told PREMIUM TIMES.

“The U.S. home was simply one of such numerous investments. The home was no longer serving the purpose for which it was bought. Consequently, it has to be put up for sale via open auction, a growing and preferred method of selling high end properties. The proceeds thereof will be deployed to business aimed at creating jobs,” he added

Abubakar has consistently denied being barred from the U.S.